Frequently Asked Questions
-
What are your training methods?
Our primary training methods focus on canine cognition (teaching the dog’s mind) with some classical conditioning, and some operant training. We teach through motivation and positive reinforcement.
We use verbal markers, luring, targeting and some problem solving and insight learning methods. No leash corrections are used, in fact, dogs are almost always in a harness. No e-collars, no pinch collars, and no choke chains are used.
We start training pups at 3½ weeks of age so that responses are positively reinforced and embedded.
-
What is the student-to-instructor ratio for classes?
Generally the ratio is one instructor for every fifteen to twenty students with dog training class ratios about half that number.
-
Do I need lower-division college credits to attend a degree program at Bergin College of Canine Studies?
Yes, students must have the required lower-division units needed to transfer into their desired degree program. These courses/units are listed in “Academics” under “Course Requirements.”
-
Is tuition the same for in state and out of state students?
Yes. Tuition is the same for all students; even students from other countries.
-
Is housing available on campus?
Yes, Bergin College offers dormitory facilities consisting of 13 rooms and also offers three on campus apartments to rent to students. Three RV hookups are also available to rent. These are available first-come-first-serve to accepted students. These facilities are available to students only. The school is unable to rent to non-students. Students are to contact the Admissions office at [email protected] for further information regarding dorm rooms or apartments. Average monthly rent for an off campus apartment in the Canyonville area is $900-$1200 per month. Commute time for the nearest town is approximately 30 minutes. Please remember that Associate students are required to bring a dog home every night and on weekends. Housing must allow for the assigned dog.
-
According to what I've read, if I'm interested in learning how to train service dogs, the program I should be looking at is the Associate Degree in Assistance Dog Education. Is that correct?
Yes. The Associate of Science Degree is focused on vocational combined with academic knowledge that will help a graduate start a program or be hired by an assistance dog program.
-
I already have a Bachelor’s degree, would I be able to transfer these credits to the Associate of Science degree in Assistance Dog Education?
Most likely your credits would transfer if the degree is from an accredited college.
I'd like to get more details on the curriculum for the Service Dog Training Seminar. Who takes the summer seminar?
Often people who take the summer seminar are already working at or poised to be hired at a canine service dog program. The seminar is a short course so not nearly as comprehensive or in-depth as the College program. The first two weeks consist of "mock client training" where students take on the role of a client. This is intended to help students understand what a client goes through physically and emotionally. It gives you hands-on experience running a client training, and an overview of the service dog commands. This is not a training period - it consists of lecture classes, hands-on dog-training classes, and field trips. The next three weeks consist of learning the skills to train a service dog and start an organization in both lecture and hands-on dog training classes. You will be assigned dogs to work with and will most likely have a dog with you 24/7. The last two weeks of the seminar are the real client training weeks. Students become teachers and run the client training so as to really understand and learn how to work with clients and manage a service dog training class.
If I take the Service Dog Seminar, will I be ready to be a service dog trainer?
The seminar is only seven weeks, so does not fully prepare someone to start a program. The AS degree in Assistance Dog Education provides much more thorough preparation.
Most students who participate in the summer seminar already are working in the dog field and want to improve their training skills. We suggest to seminar students that when they complete the seminar, that they get some neighbor dogs or personal dogs, and experiment on the techniques taught in the seminar before training actual service dogs. Many of our seminar graduates have started their own programs based on what they learned at the seminar, however, care must be taken not to overload oneself, to take it one dog/client placement at a time rather than several clients and dogs at a time.
-
What are your training methods?
Our primary training methods focus on canine cognition (teaching the dog’s mind) with some classical conditioning, and some operant training. We teach through motivation and positive reinforcement.
We use verbal markers, luring, targeting and some problem solving and insight learning methods. No leash corrections are used, in fact, dogs are almost always in a harness. No e-collars, no pinch collars, and no choke chains are used.
We start training pups at 3½ weeks of age so that responses are positively reinforced and embedded.
-
What is the student-to-instructor ratio for classes?
Generally the ratio is one instructor for every fifteen to twenty students with dog training class ratios about half that number.
-
Do I need lower-division college credits to attend a degree program at Bergin College of Canine Studies?
Yes, students must have the required lower-division units needed to transfer into their desired degree program. These courses/units are listed in “Academics” under “Course Requirements.”
-
Is tuition the same for in state and out of state students?
Yes. Tuition is the same for all students; even students from other countries.
-
Is housing available on campus?
Yes, Bergin College offers dormitory facilities consisting of 13 rooms and also offers three on campus apartments to rent to students. Three RV hookups are also available to rent. These are available first-come-first-serve to accepted students. These facilities are available to students only. The school is unable to rent to non-students. Students are to contact the Admissions office at [email protected] for further information regarding dorm rooms or apartments. Average monthly rent for an off campus apartment in the Canyonville area is $900-$1200 per month. Commute time for the nearest town is approximately 30 minutes. Please remember that Associate students are required to bring a dog home every night and on weekends. Housing must allow for the assigned dog.
-
According to what I've read, if I'm interested in learning how to train service dogs, the program I should be looking at is the Associate Degree in Assistance Dog Education. Is that correct?
Yes. The Associate of Science Degree is focused on vocational combined with academic knowledge that will help a graduate start a program or be hired by an assistance dog program.
-
I already have a Bachelor’s degree, would I be able to transfer these credits to the Associate of Science degree in Assistance Dog Education?
Most likely your credits would transfer if the degree is from an accredited college.
-
I'd like to get more details on the curriculum for the Service Dog Training Seminar. Who takes the summer seminar?
Often people who take the summer seminar are already working at or poised to be hired at a canine service dog program. The seminar is a short course so not nearly as comprehensive or in-depth as the College program. The first two weeks consist of "mock client training" where students take on the role of a client. This is intended to help students understand what a client goes through physically and emotionally. It gives you hands-on experience running a client training, and an overview of the service dog commands. This is not a training period - it consists of lecture classes, hands-on dog-training classes, and field trips. The next three weeks consist of learning the skills to train a service dog and start an organization in both lecture and hands-on dog training classes. You will be assigned dogs to work with and will most likely have a dog with you 24/7. The last two weeks of the seminar are the real client training weeks. Students become teachers and run the client training so as to really understand and learn how to work with clients and manage a service dog training class.
-
If I take the Service Dog Seminar, will I be ready to be a service dog trainer?
The seminar is only seven weeks, so does not fully prepare someone to start a program. The AS degree in Assistance Dog Education provides much more thorough preparation.
Most students who participate in the summer seminar already are working in the dog field and want to improve their training skills. We suggest to seminar students that when they complete the seminar, that they get some neighbor dogs or personal dogs, and experiment on the techniques taught in the seminar before training actual service dogs. Many of our seminar graduates have started their own programs based on what they learned at the seminar, however, care must be taken not to overload oneself, to take it one dog/client placement at a time rather than several clients and dogs at a time.